"I met some of my heroes as the result of being the events coordinator at Schwartz Bookshop," Gohde told me when we talked about the Cedar Block show, which salutes Schwartz as an incubator of friendship, creativity and community. | April 17, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(1)

If Big Snow Show could be considered big before, this year, it's huge.

Alternative rock station WLUM-FM (102.1)'s annual year-end concert at the Rave has brought in a fair number of big names and buzz bands in the past, from Death Cab for Cutie to Cage the Elephant to 30 Seconds to Mars. | Dec. 11, 2013»Read Full Article

Justin Bieber, pictured here performing at the BMO Harris Bradley Center last year, has wrapped up his Music Mondays weekly single release series with the 10th song, "Confident," featuring Chance the Rapper. Journal Sentinel photo by Mike de Sisti.| Dec. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

In a story called "A Trillion Feet of Gas," John Updike couldn't resist a fart joke in the opening sentence: "Old Man Fraelich, as soon as they entered his room, rose in his pearl-pale suit and intoned flatuently, 'John, let's you and I go downstairs.' " | Dec. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

The little icon on our desktop weather forecast is missing the little sun that was up and shining yesterday, not that anyone was feeling warm rays. In other words, today brings another wintry Wisconsin day. Enjoy it via some indoor activities.

First, snuggle up with a good blog post about one of John Updike's stories written by our very own arts and books editor Jim Higgins. This week Higgins takes on a story called "A Trillion Feet of Gas," which, as I understand it is the tale of an akward dinner party in a rich man's home that includes a natural pairing: too much testosterone and at least one fart joke. That might be an over simplification. Jim posts his weekly missives at 8 a.m. at the Recommended Reading blog. | Dec. 11, 2013»Read Full Blog Post